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Say Goodbye to Your iPad When the Battery Fails

by - source: Tom's Hardware US

Apple has long been criticized for the enclosed batteries in the iPhone and MacBook line of laptops. Because the batteries are sealed inside, the batteries are not removable and, in the event of diminished battery life, must be replaced by Apple.

Over the weekend it emerged that iPad users would also have to send their devices to Apple if they wanted a replacement battery. However, unlike iPhones and MacBooks, Apple isn't going to crack open your iPad and replace the battery, it's going to send you a new one.

Yesterday lunchtime, Apple posted an FAQ for the iPad's Battery Replacement Service (via Engadget). Apple's solution to a dead battery is to send you a new iPad, with none of your data.

If your iPad requires service due to the battery’s diminished ability to hold an electrical charge, Apple will replace your iPad for a service fee.

This service fee is later detailed as $99, plus $6.95 shipping. The total cost being  $105.95 per unit.

Apple goes on to say that any data on the iPad you send in, will be lost.

"No. You will receive a replacement iPad that will not contain any of your personal data. Before you submit your iPad for service, it is important to sync your iPad with iTunes to back up your contacts, calendars, email account settings, bookmarks, apps, etc. Apple is not responsible for the loss of information when servicing your iPad."

Click here to check out the FAQ for yourself.

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Naked_n_Happy 03/15/2010 1:39 PM
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Is it me or is Apple's philosophy of sealing in batteries inside their devices one of the reasons the tech industry is so polluting? In this day and age of environmentalism, the last thing we should do is throw away an entire device because a single component isn't performing as well as it used to.

SAL-e 03/15/2010 1:44 PM
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I wish Greenpeace or other organization alike drags Apple into the court and sues them until this wasteful practice is over once and for all.

JasonAkkerman 03/15/2010 1:51 PM
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Control, Control, Control....

Apple is like an abusive spouse.

stratplaya 03/15/2010 2:06 PM
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And yet for some reason, Apple is the corporation of choice for those leaning left.

bachok83 03/15/2010 2:07 PM
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Apple foresees that there will be a bunch of unsold iPads. A creative way to still sell them, and add to that 'sold' list. hehe.

dwave 03/15/2010 2:08 PM
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Apple > Microsoft???? Sounds like they are worse after reading this crap.

Hilarion 03/15/2010 2:10 PM
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"Apple Almighty" strikes again.... You don't "own" your Apple.... they do.

hokkdawg 03/15/2010 2:30 PM
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Minus_i7 03/15/2010 2:30 PM
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Five reasons you should be scared of Apple:
http://www.cracked.com/article_183 [...] apple.html

moricon 03/15/2010 2:31 PM
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-9+

I doubt the devices get thrown away, more like refurbished, you pay over $100 for a refurbished model, way to go apple on creating a secondary revenue stream form an original sale, gotta applaud such business acumen! I bet the shareholders are really pleased with this news!!!

techd2 03/15/2010 2:33 PM
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shadow187 03/15/2010 2:37 PM
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-12+

One hundred dollars for them to fix something wrong with their product which you spend more than 4x that on.

What is wrong with apple...

CTPAHHIK 03/15/2010 2:43 PM
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I did not expect that I would have to sync iPad to iTunes. What if I don't have iTunes (I absolutely despise iTunes)? I don't sync my laptop or netbook to anything. Is iPad nothing more than over sized iPhone?
Disappointed ...

Camikazi 03/15/2010 2:56 PM
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CTPAHHIK :
I did not expect that I would have to sync iPad to iTunes. What if I don't have iTunes (I absolutely despise iTunes)? I don't sync my laptop or netbook to anything. Is iPad nothing more than over sized iPhone? Disappointed ...


Yes, yes it is.

Camikazi 03/15/2010 2:57 PM
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techd2 :
Wait I don't see the problem here. You have a problem with the device (battery), they give you a new one. What's wrong with that? You give them USED... You get NEW.. (scratching head).. And the problem is?


Where in there does it say you get a new one? It says it will be replaced, but does not say new replacement, it might just be a refurbished one with maybe a new battery.

nforce4max 03/15/2010 3:05 PM
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This is why I HATE apple they are not like they used to be now they are worse then microsoft and both are terrible. Poor product quality high fees and so much more. I much rather use Linux than to use OSX and I am a windows users, at least it is free and has cross platform compatibility.

zak_mckraken 03/15/2010 3:07 PM
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http://www.greenpeace.org/apple/

Another addition to the list.

Godfail 03/15/2010 3:07 PM
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cadder 03/15/2010 3:11 PM
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Tom's copy says "send you a new one", the linked FAQ does not say new. At some point if they have refurbs available I would expect that you would receive a refurb.

It also says they won't service a "modified" unit, which I take to mean "jailbroken" or otherwise hacked.

Yuka 03/15/2010 3:12 PM
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Well, if you pay for an Apple, I guess you know nothing about PCs at all, right? At least, the vas majority of users don't (even in PCs), so I think it's not a bad policy so they don't deal with "I think I know how to do things, but actually I don't and then break my stuff".

In other words, works for dumb people.

Cheers!

JohnnyLucky 03/15/2010 3:22 PM
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None of this sounds very good. I never thought I would see the day that I would not be allowed to replace a simple battery.

Dawgsoverrebs 03/15/2010 3:33 PM
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CTPAHHIK :
I did not expect that I would have to sync iPad to iTunes. What if I don't have iTunes (I absolutely despise iTunes)? I don't sync my laptop or netbook to anything. Is iPad nothing more than over sized iPhone? Disappointed ...



How could you possibly think otherwise everyday there is a new article about how this is a bloated ipod I'm sick of having to answer these questions. Its a giant ipod same features same apps twice the price. Its not a laptop a netbook macbook or really even a tablet, IT'S AN IPOD

Regulas 03/15/2010 3:49 PM
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Naked_n_Happy :
Is it me or is Apple's philosophy of sealing in batteries inside their devices one of the reasons the tech industry is so polluting? In this day and age of environmentalism, the last thing we should do is throw away an entire device because a single component isn't performing as well as it used to.


I think you have it reversed. By doing this Apple ensures batteries do not go to the dump. I am sure they have a battery replacement centre and instead of making you wait they replace the device and re-service/recycle your old one.
What about your data, I guess you back it all up to a PC or Mac then wipe the iPad data before sending it in. Still this concept is a no go for me, too expensive, no third party batteries available for probably $29.95.
I take my old batteries to Radio Shack who takes any battery and send them in for recycling.

korsen 03/15/2010 4:22 PM
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Ask yourself how many people give their batteries back instead of just dumping their hardware at a local transfer station (called the dump where I live, because it's either separate the metal into a pile, and everything else goes into the pit). It's a bad idea.

Next thing you know we'll have disposable pistols too. No, Beretta says you cannot remove the clip to add more bullets. You must send the gun back and you will get a new one without all your personal data and traceable information on it.

lol the world just gets scarier everyday. just go read the comments on the ISP article.

dgingeri 03/15/2010 4:24 PM
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Just like Apple: charge people to repair brand new products that are designed so that the users can't replace the part themselves.

Why do people worship this company?? They are totally irresponsible when it comes to the environment, designing their products so that they can't be user serviceable, support low wages and slavery by putting suppliers on 1 year 'probation' for bad wage practices, yes they dismiss suppliers instantly who are even suspected of breaking secrecy agreements, and beat down journalists who even get close to their production facilities. The OS is insecure and crappy, claiming to be superior because nobody bothers to write viruses for it. (Obscurity is not security!) Then they lock people into their software by making it impossible to transfer data to competing products.

I have a gen 2 ipod nano. when that dies, I'm never buying another Apple product again, regardless of whether I'll lose half my music library because it won't transfer. This company is the most evil company I've ever seen.

Kaileb 03/15/2010 4:29 PM
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Apple > consumers silly enough to purchase their products.

cadder 03/15/2010 4:33 PM
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Quote :This company is the most evil company I've ever seen.


What they need is some competition. Maybe MS should come up with an Apple mode in their next OS, so you could run Apple apps in it. With some competition they would have to alter their business practices to conform to the rest of the world.

chunkymonster 03/15/2010 4:37 PM
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Was somewhat interested in the 3G version of the iPad, but this is a major FAIL on Apple's part...will definitely be looking at alternatives for a tablet purchase...looks like either a Freescale, JooJoo tablet or wait to see how the MS Courier turns out...

OvrClkr 03/15/2010 4:52 PM
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Quote :

"Before you submit your iPad for service, it is important to sync your iPad with iTunes to back up your contacts, calendars, email account settings, bookmarks, apps, etc."

Well, this of course cannot be done if it won't power up, funny...

leafman420 03/15/2010 5:17 PM
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lol well I'm still not going to buy an i(anything), and I'm sure it will go over really well with the masses. Great Thank You Apple..... This is why the world going to end in 2012, oh wait it will be the sun that does that. :)

jgiron 03/15/2010 5:18 PM
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now what'say that an Apple employee won't go fraud happy with all these used iPads? I can see them on eBay, used iPad with personal data....real cheap.


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